Valve-adjusting device



VALVE ADJUSTING DEVICE Filed March v. 1923 t I. .1 I 7 3 .50 v r", I gum/ rot /0 PaaZLeo.

Patented July 27, 192%.

ETED STATE- PATENT OFFICE,

PAUL LEO, 0F ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.

VALVE-ADJUSTING DEVICE.

Application filed March 7, 922. Serial No. 623,318.

existing engines, by the simple substitution of a part of the valve operating connection such for example, as apart of the valvepush-rod or the rocker-arm.

The invention further provides a device which admits of making the adjustment of the parts to secure the proper setting thereof and proper operation of the valve, with much greater ease, with the exercise of much less skill, and with much greater accuracy and speed than heretofore. r

The invention further provides a novel combination and sub-combination, hereinafter more fully set forth, for accomplishing the purposes of the invention.

Several embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure '1 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of a valve-operating connection, and a valve and cam-shaft, constituting parts of an internal combustion engine. v I

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail view of the invention per se shown secured to the end of the push rod,with parts shown in side elevation and parts shown in section.

Figure'3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a detail perspective view of the locking pin. V

Figure 5 is a side view of an embodiment of the adjusting means applied to the pivotal connection of a rocker-arm of the valve-operating connection, and

Figure 6 is a side view of an embodiment of the adjusting means applied to the rocker-arm at one end thereof.

Heretofore the usual method of adjusting valves with previous devices. consisted in placing the cylinder to be'worked on, on compression or explosion cycle. Loosening the lock nut holding ball end of push rod and screwing the ballhend up 'or down until a feeler gauge'ofthiclmess equalling the proper clearance can just be inserted between end of valve stem and rocker arm when the lock nut is tightened.

This operation requires considerable skill as the act of tightening thelock nut tends to alter the clearance, due to back lash between ball end andthreads on push rod and several trials must be made before the correct adjustment is attained, two or three thousandths of an inch even making a considerable difference in the running of the engine.

In some cases no ball end is provided,

the push rod fitting into a female thread in tappet and the other fiat end of push rod striking one end of rocker arm. In this form of construction it is still, however,

necessary to employ a lock nut to abut against the tappet and the; back lash is a serious impediment to correct adjustment as inthe case, of push rods of the former-constructions. Y 7

Referring to said drawings, A designates a valve, of the usual or any-desired construction, comprising the valve proper a, stem at, closing springa butt a B designates a cam-shaft, having a'cam b thereon, and C designates as a whole the operatingconnections between the cam-shaft and valve. 1 I a a The operating connections may comprise a rocker-arm 10, turning in bearings 11, and having at one end a shoe 12 adapted to contact with the end or butt a of the valve stem a to open the valve 0; against the tension of the closing spring a The other end of the rocker-arm 10 is connected by means of a suitable joint, as for example a ball and socket joint 15, with a push rod 17. The push rod 17 conveniently has at its other end, a tappet 19 working in a suitable guide sleeve 21 and preferably having at its end an antifric tion roller 23 for bearing on the cam 6.

According to the present invention, a micrometer gauge in the form of an adjustable joint 30 is provided in some part of the operating connection, said joint being of a character which avoids loose movement, and there is also preferably provided in conjunction with said adjustable joint, a means for accurately indicating the amount of adjustment which is or may be given to the parts, and a means for positively locking the same after the adjustment has been obtained.

In Figures l, 2 and 3, the push rod 17 is shown provided at its upper end with the usual threaded portion '31 to which the gauge forming the adjustable joint 1s secured. The joint may comprise a member 32 having a neck 33 and a ball 34 which fits within the socket on the end of the rocker-arm 10. The member 32 forms the female member of the joint 30 and is interiorly bored and threaded as at 35 to engage the threaded end of the rod 17 which forms the male member of the joint 50. it locking pin 36 is fitted within the member '32 transversely of the bore and is provided with a threaded cut away portion 37 which threads are of the same pitch and continuous with the female threads 35, hence when the .pin is tightened the cut away portion 37 tightly engages the threads 31 on the rod 17 and securely locks the parts against relative ,movement which tightening does not lengthen or shorten the rod and thereby prevents backlash in the screw thread. A nut 39 011 a reduced shank "+150, extending through one side of the member 32 and engaging a lock-washer all, serves for tighten ng the pm 36 within the member 32, and locking it against movement.

The member 32 maybe provided with a downward projection "42, which serves as a pointer and is adapted to 'coact with a disk or collar 43 which is tastened on ;the rod 17 by means of the set screw ill. The disk is provided on its upper face with a series of graduations 45, and on its periphery with a series or" notches l6, and may be used for the purpose of turning the rod 17 when the adjustment of the valve is desired.

The member '32 is also provided with another indicator in the form of a downward projection 45 which resiliently engages within the notches as on the disk 43 and acts as a detent device or lockingmeans for holding the member 32 and disk in adjusted relation before the locking pin 36 is tightened.

By the present device, valves may be adjusted in a moment with absolute accuracy to within one or two tenthscl' a thousandth of an inch, by putting the cylinder on compression or explosion (so that both valves are normally closed) loosening the nut'39 until the rod 17 will just turn. The rod'1'7 is then turned until there is no clearance between the shoe 12 and the butt of of the valve stem. The rod 17 is then turned backwardly to the extent required, .(which is known or learned by use of the engine) and the extent 0'5 turning can be measured to thousandths of an inch or less by observing the .number of graduations which pass the pointer during the turning of the rod. If the pitch of the thrcads between the member 32 and rod 17 be 1/28 or an inch. and the 'disk 4-3 be provided with 36 divisions, each graduation will indicate a movement of one thousandth of an inch. During the adjustment the detent device to may be held out of engagement with the notches 46 on the disk l3 until the adjustment is made. After the adjustment is made the detent is released to engage a notch on the disk and hold the same until the nut 39 on the locking pin 36 is tightened, and the parts scc'r'irely looked.

t will be noted that tightening the locking pin in my device does not tend to set the push rod nearerto'the rocker arm nor further away "from it, back lash is eliminated by the fact that it is only loosened sufficiently to allow of push rod 17 being revolved, making a perfect fit between both male and female threads.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the rocker-arm 10 is provided with the adjustable joint 30 at the pivotal point. The adjust-able pivot screw 50 is mounted in the cross piece 51 and the locking pin 36 passes through the-cross piece and serves for clamping the pivot screw 50 therein. The graduated disk 4'3 is secured to the upper end of the pivot screw and coacts with the cross piece 51 through the indi cato'r or detent t'levice 52.

In the embodiment shown in Figure '6, the rocker-arm 10 is provided with the ad justable joint 30 at one end thereof. The adjustable screw 55 is mounted on one end of the rocker-arm and the locking pin 86 is also mounted in the r0cker-arm to engage the screw transversely thereto. The graduated disk 43 is secured to the upper end of the screw 55, and coacts with the rocker-arm through the indicator or detent-device 56.

It is obvious that those skilled in the art may vary the details of construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention, and, therefore, I do not wish to be limited to such features except as may be required by the claims.

lVhat I claim is-- 1. A valve operating connection comprising two parts adjustable toward and from one another in the direction of the transmission ofoperative .motion, one of said parts provided with a series of graduations and the other of said parts provided with an indicator cooperating with said graduations for measuring the extent of movement of said parts, and :a pin on one of said parts having locking engagement with the other part.

2. A valve operating connection comprising two parts adjustable toward and from one ranoth er in the direction of the transmission or" operative motion, one of said parts provided with a series of graduations and the other of said parts provided with an indicator cooperating with said graduations for measuring the extent of movement of said parts, a pin fitting in one of said parts and having screw threaded connection with the other part and a tightening unit for said pin.

3. A valve operating connection comprising two parts having screw threaded connections and adjustable toward and from one another in the direction of the transmission of operative motion, one of said parts provided with a series of graduations and the other of said parts provided with an indicator cooperating with said graduations for measuring the extent of movement of said parts and a locking device for said parts,rcomprising a pin fitting in one of said parts having screw threads formed of the same pitch and continuous with the threads thereof and engaging with the threads of the other part.

4. A valve operating connection comprising two parts adjustable toward and from one another in the direction of the transmission of operative motion, one of said parts provided with a series of graduations and the other of said parts provided with an indicator cooperating with said graduations for measuring the extent of movement of said parts and a pin fitting in one of said parts transversely of the bore thereof and having screw threaded connection with the other part and a tightening nut for said pin.

5. A valve operating connection comprising two parts and a micrometer gauge for obtaining adjustment of the parts toward and from one another, said gauge comprising a notched and graduated disc mounted on one of said parts, a resilient member mounted on the other part and engaging the notches on the disc, and a pin on one of said parts and having screw threaded engagement with the other part for clamping the parts against relative movement.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 27th day of February, 1923.

PAUL LEO. 

